Weeping Bottlebrush Tree

Common Name: Weeping Bottlebrush

Family - Myrtaceae

Genus – Callistemon

Species – viminalis

Callistemon viminalis, or Weeping Bottlebrush, makes a beautiful specimen tree in the front yard in Central Florida. It is drought tolerant once established, and a repeat bloomer. It has a strong flush of blooms in the early spring (February-March in Central Florida) and then lighter flushes of bloom throughout the year.

As soon as the flowers open up, the honeybees and the hummingbirds appear for the feast. The flowers are not fragrant and pendulate from the tips of woody stems. It is easy to control the height and form through selective pruning.

The specimen shown is about 12 years old, and is shown in bloom in Central Florida on February 8, 2013. It is on the Western exposure and gets blistering afternoon sun.